Swift



@16,1931 A F, PEARSQNv 2,069,114

SWIFT Filed May 51, 1933 2 sheets-sheet' 1 ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 26, 1937. A. F. PEARsoN 2,069,114

` SWFT I FiledA May 31, 195s 2 sheets-sheet 2 5 'f2 W4 3f 0 ATTORNEYS.

Patented `an. 26, 1937` ATENT OFFC SWIFT Application May 31, 1933, Serial No. 673,704

15 Claims.

vThis invention relates to a swift and has for one of its objects the provision of a swift which will be adjustable throughout a wide range that it may receive skeins of yarn of widely varying sizes.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a swift which may be easily collapsed to a suicient extent to permit the yarn to be easily j,positioned thereon after which it may expand to securely engage the yarn.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a swift which, when empty, may be taken from theframe on which it is positioned with one hand and at the same time collapsed while the other hand is utilized for positioning a skein of yarn about the same.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a swift which will be light in weight to reduce the inertia of the device and also will not excessively fatigue the operator who must lift it from the frame for the positioning of skeins of yarn thereon to be drawn to the spools or bobbins upon which they are to be wound.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is the side elevation of the swift in co1- lapsedposition.

Fig. 2 is an edge YView thereof.

Fig. 3 isa side elevation of the swift in full expanded position. Y l

Fig. 4 is a fragmental detail illustrating cna somewhat larger scale the joint between two` of the armswhen the device is in contracted position andthe arms spread apart.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the arms close together when the device is in expanded position.

Fig. 6, is a fragmental detailA in perspective of the end portion of one of the arms illustrated in Figs. 4 and,r5.

Fig. 7 is Ya view similar to Fig. 6 showing the other arm of the portion shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Fig. 8 .is a .perspective view of the member for connecting the yarn holder to the arms.

Fig.-9 is a perspective view of a washer positoned between the arms.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on line IIJ-I0 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on line Il-ll of Fig. 1, showing the stop for vlimiting the expansion of.y the swift.

thereon.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view substantially on line lil-l2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view through the two hub members of the swift.

Fig. 14 is a fragmental View of one of the 5 members and taken on substantially the line llilll of Fig. 13 looking in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. 15 is a section on line lli-I5 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 16 is a sectional view of a modified form 1Q of stop which may be positioned on one of the arms to limit the expansion of the swift.

In the manufacture of yarn it is frequent that skeins, when taken from the skeining machine, will be positioned upon a swift to be drawn there- 15 from to spools or bobbins, and as one of these skeins runs out it is necessary that the swift be removed from the frame and a fresh skein placed In placing of the skeins in position some sort of contraction is desirable that the 20 skeins may be easily positioned on the strings between the usual sticks on the swift. It is frequent also that where skeins of different size are used it is necessary to provide separate swifts for each size skein, and in order that a swift may be 25 provided which may be easily adjustable to accommodate widely varying size skeins and also be collapsible to a considerable extent to allow a skein to be easily positioned thereon I have provided a device which is collapsible by reason 30 of its parts folding one on the other which may be made light in weight and which may be limited in its adjustment by suitable stops and one which the operator may manipulate by a single hand while using the other hand to put the same 3 3 thereon, and the following is the description of the present embodiment of this invention illustrating the preferred means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished.

With reference to the drawings I provide a 40 bearing means at the center of the swift designated generally 20 which may be pivotally mounted in bearings in the usual manner. This bearing means in the present construction consists of a spindle 2| having its ends reduced as 4.3 at 22 to provide trunnions. A hub 23 is secured against longitudinal movement on the spindle by a bushing 24 fitted within a hole 25 in the hub and held in place by set screw 26. Another hub 21 is held against longitudinal movement of the 50 spindle by collar 28 held in position by set screw 29. This collar being set within a recess 30 in the end of the hub 21. The hub 2l is rotatable about the spindle as an axis. A spring 3| mounted-within recesses, 32 inY hub 23, and 33 55 in hub 27, is held in position by reason of the end portions 35 and 35 of this spring extending into openings 36 and 3'! in the hubs. A washer Zia is interposed between the ends of the spring and the adjacent wall of the recess. These hubs are relatively rotated to cause the spring to be under tension when the device is in collapsed position whereby they tend to relatively rotate to expand the device.

The inner surfaces of the hubs are each slotted as at 38 and 39 which provides grooves to receive the flattened portions Il@ and 4l of the members 42 and t3 which members are secured to their respective hubs and in the grooves by screws 44. The shaft 2l extends through the openings 45 in the members 42 and 53. These members 42 and 43 are shaped with offsets or bends as at 45v and 4l in order that they may be better grasped by the hand of the operator for manipulating them.

A pair oi links or arms 48, 49 are pivoted together as at and are also pivoted to the ends of the members l2 and 53 as at 5l and 52. These pairs or links or arms are duplicated at either side of the device as it appears in Figs. l and 3. At the points 5l and 52 guides 53 are also mounted, and also at each of these pivot points Varms 54 and 55 are pivoted, the arm 55 being pivoted to the arm l2 and extending upwardly as shown in Fig. 3 through the guide 53 While the arm 55 is pivoted as at 5l to the arm i3 and extends downwardly through the guide 53 mounted on pivot 52. These arms 55 and 55 are likewise duplicated on the other side of the center of the device whereby a symmetrical arrangement is afforded.v

At the ends of the arms 54 and 55 yarn holders 55 are rigidly secured, each consisting of a bridge portion 5l with flanges 55 extending outwardly. These flanges are notched as at 59 that a cord may be stretched across them if it is desired that the yarn rest upon a cord rather than on the rigid yarn holder 56.

Yarn holders 55 are pivotally related at the junction points 55 of the links or arms 48 and 45. In this instance the iiattened end portion 55 of the arm 58 and the attened end portion 6l of the arm 49 are each notched as at 52 and 63. A washer Bil is. positioned between these flattened portions while a mounting member having a bridge portion 66 and eyes 5l mounted on either side of the iiattened portions 65 and 5i all receive the pivot pin 58, the notch 69 of the washer 55 tting the portion 66 of mounting member 65,

and this portion 66 tting within the notches 62 and 63 of the arms 4S and 45 whereby vthe yarn holder 55, kwhich is rigidly secured to the portion 55, is limited in its swinging movement about the pivot 5E by reason of its engagement with the edges of notches 52 and 63. In some positions of adjustment, such as when the device is in expanded position and the arms are in the position illustrated in Fig. 5, the yarn holder 55 can then practically not rock at all whereas when the device is in contracted position and the arms are in the position illustrated in Fig.v 4, a limited rocking movement of the parts is had. In this manner the yarn holders are retained in their desired position. Y

v It will thus be observed that as I swing the arms one with reference to the other about the pin 2| as a bearing from the position illustrated in Fig. 3 to the position illustrated in Fig. 1 all of the yarn holders will be moved inwardly so that their radial distance from the bearing is shorter. This movement places the spring 3l under tension, and if released this spring will cause the hubs to rotate and the arms to move outwardly from the contracted position in Fig. l to the expanded position in Fig. 3 whereby each of the yarn holders is then radially moved a distance outward from the bearing so that a skein of larger encircling size may be mounted thereon. The position of the skein on the swift being illustrated by the dotted line A in Fig. 1.

The spring 3l will be placed under some tension when the device is assembled so that full reliance for expansion does not depend upon the pressure under which ythe spring is placed by the contraction.` In order that the expanding movement, urged by the spring, may be limited I have provided a clamp l0 which may be secured about the rounded portion of o-ne of` the arms 55 and clamped at a desired position therealong by means of a stud 'l2 having a nger piece 'i3 to bind the two portions 'M and i5 thereof together, and by reason of the engagement of this stop with the guide through which each of these arms pass it will limit the expanding movement of the swift.

In some instances in order that it will not be necessary to unscrew the clamp for movement in one direction I may provide a ball clutch grip in which there is a cup l5 slidably mounted upon the rod or arm 55, and which has therein a mernber 'il in the recess I8 therein to receive balls 'i9 and engage the tapered surface 8l) of the cup l5. The spring 8l tends to force the balls into engagement'with the tapered surface of the arm 55 while permitting movement of the device in the direction of the arrow 82, and preventing its movement in the opposite direction by reason of the wedging action obtained between the tapered surface and the arm on which the device is mounted. Should, however, 'it be desired to move the device in a direction opposite to the arrow 82, the head of the member 'I7 would be engaged and moved relatively to the cup l5 to releasethe balls from gripping the rod 55 and permit relative movement therealong.

In this particular swift the hubsare provided with attened portions 83 which enable a friction brake to bey applied for retarding its rotation by placing tension upon the swift, and also they are grooved as at 85 in order that the hanging type weight or tension may be placed to retard the rotation of the swift. l

The device will preferably be made out of light weight metal such as aluminum or a light alloy and will be of weight substantially of that of a wooden swift which Aan operator may easily handle., Another advantage ofthe swift being light in weight is that the inertia of the same will be a minimum whereby the swift may be easily started up by pulling on the thread and when the pull on the thread tending to rotate the same is stopped the swift will have less tendency to overrun. Also by reason of its arrangepositioning the yarn between the flanges 58 ofk the yarn holders mounted at the ends ofY the arms.

It will also be noted that my construction is made from duplicate parts, each of the hubs being of the same construction, the members 46 and 41 being of duplicate construction, the arms being of duplicate construction, etc. throughout the entire device whereby the manufacturing costs may be reduced to a minimum.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards thelconstruction illustrated, but I desire it tobe understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes Vto which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim: K

1. In a swift, bearing means, arms provided with yarn engaging surfaces spaced about said bearing means as a center, andrneans for adjustably securing said arms to said bearing means to permit of adjustment to vary the peripherial size of the swift, and yielding means tending to move saidarms to expanded position, and ad- `justable stop means located to be free from interference with a contracting movement of the armsbut limiting the expansion of said arms.

2. In a swift, a pair of members arranged in crossing relation and pivoted together at their I. l,point of crossing, two pairs of arms, each pair pivoted together at one of their ends with their other ends pivoted one to each of the ends of said members, additional arms each also pivoted to one of the ends of said members, guide means Vfor said additional arms each also pivoted to the ends of said members through Whicheach of said additional arms extend, yarn holders on "the outer ends of all of said arms forming a six point bearing for the yarn, said holders being moved toward and from said pivot for the members by a swinging of said members about their pivot whereby the size of said swift is varied.

3. In a swift, a pair of members arranged in crossing relation and pivoted together at their point of crossing, two pairs of arms, each pair pivoted together at one of their ends with their other ends pivoted one to each of the ends of said members, additional arms each also pivoted to one of the ends of said members, guide means for said additional arms each also pivoted to the ends of said members through which each of said additional arms extend, yarn holders on the outer ends of all of said arms forming a six point bearing for the yarn, said holders being moved toward and from said pivot for the members by a swinging of said members about their pivot whereby the size of said swift is varied, resilient means at the pivot for said members tending to relatively move said members to move the yarn holders to expanded position.

4. In a swift, a pair of members arranged in crossing relation and pivoted together at their point of crossing, two pairs of arms, each pair pivoted together at one of their ends with their other ends pivoted each to one of the ends of said members, additional arms each also pivoted to an end of said members, guide means for said additional arms each also pivoted to one of the ends of said members through which each of said additional arms extend, yarn holders on the outer ends of all of said arms forming a six point bearing for the yarn, said holders being moved toward and from said pivot for the members by a swinging of said members about their pivot whereby the size of said swift is varied, resilient means at the pivot for said members tending to relatively move said members to move the yarn holders to expanded position, and adjustable stop means for limiting said expansion to a desired position.

g'. In a swift,l a pivot pin, a pair of relatively movable hubs rotatably mounted on said pin, va

spring contained within said hubs tending to ro.

tatel them in one direction, a pair of members pivotally mounted on said pin and crossing each other and extending in diierent directions, one of said'members being secured to one hub and the other member secured to the other hub, arms secured to the ends of said members and yarn holders on the ends of said arms.

6. AIn a swift, a pivot pin, a pair of relatively movable hubs rotatably mounted on said pin, a spring-contained within said hubs tending to rotate them in one direction, a pair of membersA pivotally mounted on said pin and crossingeach other and extending in diierent directions, one of said members being secured to one hub and the other member secured to the other hub, anY

arm and aV guide secured to the ends of each member, the arm secured to one member extending through the guide at the end of another member, and yarn holders on the ends of said arms.

'7. In a swift, a pivot pin, a pair of relatively movablehubs rotatably mounted-on said pin, a spring contained within said hubs tending to rotate them in one direction, a pair of members pivotally mounted on said pin and crossing each other and extending in dierent directions, one

ci said members being secured to onehub and` the other member secured to the other hub, anl

arm and a guide secured to the end of each member, the arm secured to one member extending through the guide atl the end of another member, two pairs of arms each pivoted together with their ends secured to the ends of two of said members, yarn holders at the point of pivoting together, and yarn holders at the end of said arms.

8. In a swift, a pivot pin, a pair of relatively movable hubs rotatably mounted on said pin, a spring contained within said hubs tending to rotate them in one direction, a pair of members pivotally mounted on said pin crossing each other and extending in different directions, one of said members being secured to one hub and the other member secured to the other hub, arms secured to the ends of said members and yarn holders on the ends of said arms, and adjustable stop means for limiting the expansion to a desired position.

9. In a swift, a pivot pin, a pair of relatively movable hubs rotatably mounted on said pin, a spring contained within said hubs tending to rotate them in one direction, a pair of members pivotally mounted on said pin and crossing each other and extending in different directions, one of said members being secured to one hub and the other member secured to the other hub, an arm and a guide secured to the end of each member, the arm secured to one member extending through the guide at the end of another member, yarn holders on the ends of said arms, and adjustable stop means on one of said arms for limiti-ng said expansion to a desired position.

1G. In a swift, a pivot pin, a pair of relatively movable hubs rotatably mounted on said pin, a spring contained within said hubs tending to rotate them in one direction, a pair of members pivotally mounted on said pin and crossing each other and extending in diierent directions, one of said members being secured to one hub and the other member secured to the other hub, an arm and a guide secured to the end of each member, the arm secured to one member extending through the guide at the end of another memf for engagingits guide and limiting the expansion to a desired position.

11. In a swift, bearing means, a pluralityrof members adjustably secured to said bearing means and movable relatively to each other to vary the peripheral size of the swift, arms adjustably secured to said members and provided withyarn-engaging surfaces, and an adjustable stop means secured to one of said arms to act as an abutment tothe portion carried by one of Said members and prevent said members and arms from moving beyond the desired adjusted position but permitting said members and arms to be moved to reduce the peripheral size of the swift.

12. In a swift, bearing means, a plurality of members adjustably secured to said bearing means, and arms adjustably secured to said membersand provided with yarn engaging surfaces, an adjustable stop means secured to one of said arms, and means on one of said members :forA

engaging said stop means to prevent said arms from moving beyond the desired adjusted position in one direction.

13. In a swift, bearing means, members radially directed with reference to said bearing means and movable relatively to each other about said bearing means, and arms secured to said members and provided with yarn-engaging surfaces positioned for supporting yarn in generally circular form aboutk said bearing means as a center, yielding means for urging said membersand arms to eX- panded position, and adjustable means including a stop on one of said arms for limiting the expansion thereof to av predetermined size.

14. In a swift, a pair of members arranged in crossingrelation and pivoted together at their point of crossing, four yarn holders arranged in two pairs, means forconnecting said holders to the ends of said members comprising for each holder a pivotal connection to one member and a slidable connection to the other member to cause the holders of each pair, as the arms rotate about their pivot, to approach and recede from each other along vstraight parallel lines, and whereby one pair of holders approaches and recedes from the other pair along a line at right angles to the motion of a given pair simultaneously with the relative motion of theholders of each pair, a third pair of holders located in a line through the pivot of said members, and means connecting each to a pair of ends of said members so as to approach and recede from the pivot of the members simultaneously with the approaching and receding movements of said first-mentioned pairs with respect to each other.

15. In a swift, a pair of pivoted members, and a pair of yarn holders, means connecting said holders to two ends of said members comprising a pair of arms in opposite relation each having pivotal connection to one member and a guide on the other member, whereby said holders approach and recede from each other as said ends recede from and approach each other.

ARVID F. PEARSON. 

